Letters to the editor, June 4, 2011

June 4, 2011

System Development Charges are fees charged to new residential developments (single-family homes, manufactured homes, duplexes, duplex conversions, townhouses, accessory dwelling units and condominiums) to help pay a portion of the costs of capital facilities needed to expand the capacity of the facilities operated by the Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation District. These fees are essential to assist in providing new parks, trails and other open space for the growing community.

SDCs were implemented by the HRVPRD within the City Urban Growth Area in 1994. The methodology and rates established in 1994 were updated in 1998 and 2005 to reflect changes in costs since that time, and to address facility needs identified in the HRVPRD Master Plan.

HRVPRD SDCs are currently applicable throughout Hood River County, excluding Cascade Locks. Collections of the SDC funds are done by the city and county offices concurrent with collection of other building permit fees applicable to residential development.

Consistent with the HRVPRD Master Plan, the HRVPRD is authorized to increase SDCs by 6 percent annually. The HRVPRD board will deliberate the SDC increase at its next scheduled meeting on June 15. If approved, effective July 1, 2011, the rates for SDCs throughout will be $2,319 for single-family dwellings, $1,658 for multi-family and $2,225 for manufactured homes.

In response to community input the HRVPD Master Plan identifies several top priorities:

Develop neighborhood park property in Odell

Complete a district-wide trail system

Improve existing parks and to expand capacity and safety

Improve Aquatic Center, Skate Park, Disc Golf

Develop open space on district property

If you would like more information about the Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation District or the System Development Charges, contact District Director Lori Stirn at 541-386-5720 or parksandrec@gorge.net.

Lori Stirn

Hood River

Exceptional event

If it hasn't been said, here it is: Great job, Bob Huskey! The Memorial Day presentation was exceptional.

Greg Walden's speech was sharp, intelligent and took a very uncomfortable subject head-on. Niko Yasui stood and shared a heartfelt story that illustrated the Nisei plight, but also the redemption that was present then, and today. Linda Tamura's reading of all those Japanese who have served was long, but so very necessary.

There were simply too many other people who made that event outstanding to list them here. To all of you, as an elected official, as an Asian, as a member of your community, I give you a heartfelt thanks for reminding my son and I of the sacrifice required to live in a free society.

Maui Meyer

Hood River

Kudos to Guidinger

An ode to a big part of Hood River Library: Today was the last day Jayne Guidinger worked for the GorgeLink group. That might not mean a lot to some, but for me it means everything.

Jayne not only served - and will hopefully serve again - the youth of Hood River County by sharing her honest enthusiasm for good books, by planting the seed for future reading through story times and fun, but she also served to link together a group of libraries that made going to the Hood River County Library an incredible experience.

For those of us who lost our jobs last July, we have grieved and dealt with the shock; but for Jayne, she helped guide the new district, dealt with constant public information and conflict, volunteered and organized the restructuring of a new library computer system. She dealt with it all with poise, hard work, incredible flexibility and honesty.

On a more personal note, she was the better half of the best dynamic duo working relationship I have every encountered. She completed me. Jayne knew when to jump in, when to stand back, when to laugh, where I left it all and more, and had an incredible way of bringing out the best in me.

For the five years we worked together, I am truly thankful, and hope that one day soon, maybe in the new Hood River Library District, we will form the power of the dynamic duo again. Actually, in honesty, all those who worked for the library formed a pretty cool Literary League (look for the comic book soon!).

Heather Clemons-Porter

Parkdale

Exceptional event

If it hasn't been said, here it is: Great job, Bob Huskey! The Memorial Day presentation was exceptional.

Greg Walden's speech was sharp, intelligent and took a very uncomfortable subject head-on. Niko Yasui stood and shared a heartfelt story that illustrated the Nisei plight, but also the redemption that was present then, and today. Linda Tamura's reading of all those Japanese who have served was long, but so very necessary.

There were simply too many other people who made that event outstanding to list them here. To all of you, as an elected official, as an Asian, as a member of your community, I give you a heartfelt thanks for reminding my son and I of the sacrifice required to live in a free society.

Maui Meyer

Hood River

Fox and hens

Mr. Brostoff, I appreciated your letter in the Wednesday paper (Our Readers Write, June 1), but couldn't help but sigh and shake my head.

Our monetary system by its nature is set up to breed greed, dishonesty and predatory behavior. Furthermore, brilliant minds like those of Elizabeth Warren could better serve us through education about the effects of capitalism on our financial systems instead of spending years tweaking something which cannot be altered by its nature.

Pardon this metaphor, but this is how I envision our current scenario: The fox says "Hey, farmer, can you take down that fence around those chickens? It is blocking my beautiful view."

The farmer responds, "But then you will eat my chickens."

Fox: "No, I just don't want the view spoiled by this nasty fence."

Unfortunately, you can't eat a view and the fox will get hungry. Wall Street and the banking industry are no different. They have one thing in mind: To make as much money as possible through whatever means possible.

I think this loosely defines capitalism. You can throw in some things about ethics, but that is it in a nutshell. People rail about government regulations and intrusions up until they lose their entire pensions through the lies and greed perpetrated by Enron and similar companies.

Again, it was about making money at the top through greed and lies. Human nature will always breed this in a capitalist-based model.

Responders please note that I am a capitalist, an American and an employed member of the community. Thank you.